Reshaping legal assistance services: building on the evidence base

This discussion paper provides a comprehensive overview of empirical research on the nature and distribution of legal needs in Australia and other jurisdictions, including Canada. According to the paper, abundant research indicates that inequality in the experience of legal problems is linked to social disadvantage and that this social disadvantage is in turn linked to low legal capability. Moreover, legal problems tend to happen in “clusters” rather than in isolation. The paper concludes that there is no simple formula for change that will be appropriate across various sectors, and poses several questions for discussion as to future approaches for service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, funding models and policy development.